Email: Chapter 18, Article 2I
§18-2I-1. Professional development coordination and delivery; system goals.
The purpose of this article is to establish clear state-level leadership for professional development for all West Virginia public school educators and administrators. As the state institution charged with the general supervision of the state school system, the state board shall institute a system for the coordination and delivery of high-quality professional development. The system shall clearly define the goals for professional development and delineate roles and responsibilities of the various state, school district and individual school levels for the delivery of high-quality professional development. The state board shall include among the goals for the system of professional development the following:
(1) The instructional leadership skills of principals are developed to ensure that each school is led by a principal who is knowledgeable of continuous improvement processes and capable of leading effective improvement efforts. The principal also must understand the value of fair and accurate personnel performance evaluations as an effective, continuous improvement effort to drive professional learning at the school level;
(2) Professional development is among the array of supports and processes necessary under a performance-based accreditation system to build the capacity of schools to impact student performance and well-being by increasing staff individual and collective skills, competencies, and abilities. It should be based on a thorough analysis of accountability data and strategic planning for continuous improvement that addresses those areas that must be a priority for individual school support, including an analysis of personnel evaluation data in order to target individualized professional learning at the school level;
(3) The school is the unit of change. Local and state resources, policies, and procedures must focus on assisting the improvement of each West Virginia school and on differentiating supports according to need and level of performance, including the implementation of school-based professional development programs that address the unique needs of staff and students; and
(4) Professional development should be delivered using techniques, school schedules or time in a manner that does not diminish student learning by the absence of their classroom teacher.
§18-2I-2. Legislative findings.
The Legislature finds:
(1) That high-quality professional development is critical in supporting improved practice, assuring teacher quality and raising student achievement;
(2) That professional development is vital in the state’s overall school improvement efforts;
(3) That the state board shall assure the efficient delivery of high-quality professional development programs and that the duplication of efforts be minimized;
(4) That the state board shall assure all stakeholders are appropriately involved in the planning and implementing of programs to meet requisite needs and that high-quality professional development programs be provided to public school educators of West Virginia in the most efficient and cost effective manner;
(5) That continuous improvement is the on-going process of planning, determining, implementing, and refining efforts to improve student performance and well-being. It is the collective staff process of analyzing student performance data, studying current school and classroom practices, determining root causes, researching solutions, and implementing processes outlined in the school’s strategic plan; and
(6) That the capacity for excellence resides in every school. Schools are responsible for creating school-wide and classroom conditions that produce student success. Every school needs quality leadership and the flexibility and support to make the decisions that will lead to the achievement of all students.
§18-2I-3
Repealed
Acts, 2018 Reg. Sess., Ch. 105.
§18-2I-4. Coordination, development and evaluation of professional development programs.
(a) On or before November 1, 2018, the state board shall promulgate a rule in accordance with §29A-3B-1 et seq. of this code to ensure the coordination, development and evaluation of high-quality professional development programs. The rule shall include, but is not limited to, the following:
(1) Standards for quality professional development that all professional development providers shall use in designing, implementing, and evaluating professional development that shall become part of the system for the coordinated delivery of high-quality professional development established by the state board;
(2) Processes for aggregating information, in part from school and school district strategic plans, to determine areas of common need for professional development, as well as those more varied, to assist in the design of the most effective and efficient method and level of delivery;
(3) Processes for assuring professional development resources are appropriately allocated to identified areas of need;
(4) Processes for evaluating the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of the professional development;
(5) Processes for ensuring all stakeholders, including affected principals and classroom teachers, have a voice in the identification of needed professional development and various delivery models;
(6) Processes for collaboration among West Virginia Department of Education, county boards, principals and classroom teachers; and
(7) Processes for ensuring that the expertise and experience of state institutions of higher education with teacher preparation programs are included in developing and implementing professional development programs.
(b) The Center for Professional Development, formerly provided for under §18A-3A-1 et seq. of this code before the effective date of the amendment and reenactment of this section during the 2018 regular session of the Legislature, is hereby transferred to be under the authority and control of the state board. To assist in the delivery of high quality professional development for teachers, principals, and other school employees, the state board shall incorporate within the Department of Education the Center for Professional Development whose general mission shall be under the direction of the state board to advance the quality of teaching and learning in the schools of West Virginia through programs, technical assistance and support to schools and school systems to meet the legislative findings and goals of this article. The center shall perform other duties that may be assigned to it by the state board. In addition, the center shall provide statewide coordination for the continued growth and development of advanced placement programs in West Virginia high schools, including, but not limited to, serving as a liaison for The College Board, Inc., and providing for the training of advanced placement teachers.
§18-2I-5. Strategic Staff Development Fund.
(a) There is created an account within the state board titled the Strategic Staff Development Fund. The allocation of balances which accrue in the General School Fund shall be transferred to the Strategic Staff Development Fund each year when the balances become available. Any remaining funds transferred to the Strategic Staff Development Fund during the fiscal year shall be carried over for use in the same manner the next fiscal year and shall be separate and apart from, and in addition to, the transfer of funds from the General School Fund for the next fiscal year.
(b) The money in the Strategic Staff Development Fund shall be used by the state board to provide staff development in schools, counties or both that the state board determines need additional resources.
§18-2I-6.
Repealed.
Acts, 2013 Reg. Sess., Ch. 55.
§18-2I-7.
Repealed.
Acts, 2013 Reg. Sess., Ch. 55.